Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Potter Promises Changes

Service to the public is the reason Tommy Potter is seeking the office of Gurdon City Marshal.

Potter admits he has no formal police training, and brings no law enforcement experience to the race. However, he said his community involvement for the past 20 years has given him an insight to how things work.

Potter helps with Gurdon's youth program, is a member of the South Clark County Jaycees, works with Toys for Tots and as a deputy voter registrar along with the 911 emergency telephone system through the postal advisory committee, and is a member of the First Baptist Church in Gurdon.

He also works with the Community Development Entertainment Club (CD&E) and helped found Gurdon's Head Start program.

"I'd rather build a park than a prison," Potter said. "We need to work with people and have equality in law enforcement.

"I'm running because I have a vision Gurdon can be a safer, progressive community. These goals can be reached by better security and better management of the Gurdon Police Department.

If elected, in the May 21 Primary, Potter said he will work 110 percent with the community watch program. He also promised to work with the people, saying the people can police themselves better than they can be policed.

He also plans to work with programs for youth. Potter said he'd like to see young people convicted of crimes do community service, using officers as role models.

In 1995, Potter made history with the Jaycees organization by winning the Family Life Award presented by the club. This, he said, was the first time a single parent ever earned the honor.

Potter has a degree in industrial engineering, and was a master hairstylist of Arkansas in 1986.

He was also honored for founding Gurdon's Head Start program.

Potter was on the public relations committee for the new Gurdon High School, and has worked with children in tutorial programs.

In his spare time, Potter enjoys fishing and camping with his wife, Stephanie and six children.

Currently, he is working to save a historical house by remodeling it to its original condition.

He is also working with the Jaycees to get a national monument erected for Thomas Jefferson's grandson, Meriweather Lewis Randolph, who is buried near Gurdon.

One day a week, Potter goes to Pineview Nursing Home and cuts hair for the elderly residents.

According to Potter, during the past two years the Gurdon PD has gone over budget by more than $38,000.

"If the people of Gurdon feel their getting their money's worth, maybe they don't need to change," he said.

"I think it's time for a change."

Potter's grandfather was Guy "Foot" Arnold, a former city marshal in Gurdon. He said as a child, Arnold showed him how people should be treated with respect. This is how Potter said he plans to treat the citizenry if elected.